Class Descriptions:
Kat Meir
Keynote: Resilence
Class: Plant Energetics
Laura Ruby
Pre-Conference Session:
Designing & Implementing the Permaculture Herb Garden:
Students will learn the basics of permaculture through the design principles and basic design tools. They will learn how to look at a landscape holistically so that herbs are not just one part of a design but are integrated into the whole system as best makes sense for each piece of property and each plants basic needs.
Half day Permaculture Design Intro:
Students will take a deeper dive into the basics of permaculture design and design principles. They can come with goals for their properties and growing, or we can work on them as a class. Students can bring maps of their own properties and get guidance from the instructor and other students in the class.
Michelle Marie
Pre-Conference Session:
"Essence of Wellness: Aromatherapy Workshop"
For this workshop, I would like to share the profound healing aspects of aromatherapy with participants. We will begin with an overview of aromatherapy, including its history, principles, and benefits. I will also discuss the safety, dilution, and the importance of quality in the essential oils. Loose layout: Participants will leave with further aromatherapy understandings, a handout summarizing key points, blending tips, and safety guidelines. A custom oil blend created during the workshop and a small gift related to olfactory senses. In past aromatherapy workshops, I have facilitated interactive scent tryings. This involves passing around different scents, allowing participants to share their unique experiences and associations with each smell. This interactive knowledge exchange and relation-building with the oils can be a fascinating part of the workshop. I will guide on how to blend oils for specific purposes (e.g., relaxation, energy, focus). Participants create their own custom blend, choosing oils based on their preferences and goals. Bottles, labels, and ways to customize the oil bottles will be provided. Space will be held towards the end of the workshop for group reflection, questions, and further resources. This plan is designed to give participants a comprehensive understanding of aromatherapy, equipping them with practical knowledge and a personalized product to enjoy. It's about empowering people with the tools and understanding to continue their own journey with aromatherapy.
Abby Artemisia
Tea Blending Class:
Plant Walks:
“Medicine in the Trees”
Trees can be tough to identify until you know a few simple tips and tricks. We’ll walk this gorgeous land, learning the botany of the trees. Then you'll see how to harvest tree parts sustainably while learning the medicines in each part of the trees of Appalachia.
“Wildcrafters Walk”
Wildcrafting (foraging wild herbs) can be daunting. Education can cure overwhelm! Abby, a botanist, herbalist, and forager, will take you on an adventure into the wild spaces to see what herbs surround us, how we safely identify them and ethically harvest them, and how to preserve them. Get an introduction to basic botany to demystify plant identification and use all of your senses, to learn more about these plants. Bring your questions, field guides, notebooks, and cameras, along with hiking boots, rain jackets, and water bottles.
“Wonderful Weeds Walk”
Weeds are an Herbalist's best friend! They are everywhere, so they're easy to find and super sustainable to harvest for food and medicine. Let's find a few and take some deep dives to form relationships with them, learn to identify them, which parts we might want to harvest and how, and then what to do with them.
Cindi Quay
“What's your plant Totem”
Lori Collins Jenkins
“Crafting With Herbs from the Garden and the Wild”
Let's gather together and create for our home and health using herbs from the garden and the wild! Herbs are not just for eating. There is beauty and healing in creating with our plant allies. We will go over ways to dry herbs to maintain their color and beauty for dried wreaths and hangings. We will also blend a small bath salt, make our own saining bundles for burning, make herbal pillows, and so much more. As communities did before us, let us gather together and make herbal magic! Attendees will go home with several small projects and DIY instructions for creating their own magic at home.
“Building Your Business”
Labeling and Packaging We will discuss all the nuances and laws surrounding proper labeling and packaging.
“Preserving Your Harvest, the Magic of Vinegars”
What are herbal vinegars, and why should they be a part of your diet + medicine cabinet? Vinegar is an amazing menstruum to extract the medicinal and flavorful constituents of herbs. Vinegar is particularly well-suited to extract minerals from herbs--so why not eat your medicine? With a bright, sour base, you can use herbal vinegars to balance out flavors in sauces, dressings, soups and so much more. Herbal vinegars also offer an alternative to alcohol-extracted tinctures for children or those who would prefer to avoid alcohol. In this class, we will be looking at what herbs go great in vinegar, different ways to preserve herbs in vinegar and how to incorporate them into your everyday cooking. Fire ciders, shrubs, oxymels, switchels and so much more will be featured. We will also discuss making your own vinegar at home. We will make a small infused vinegar in the class to take home!
Marc Williams
Magical Meads, Supernatural Sodas, and Local Liqueurs:
Come join Marc for a journey through the ancient art of brewing beverages. We will sample various beverages while also crafting a mead and reviewing step by step directions for making your own special brews. This class will empower each student to reclaim the wonder of uniquely created drinks to please any palate! Handouts will be given.
Jeannie Dunn
Making First Aide Remedies:
Ever wonder what herbs in your yard or neighborhood would help you the most in a first-aid situation? Join Jeannie Dunn, director of Red Moon Herbs, to learn some of the uses for those common weeds growing very near you. Use some of these generous plants for bug bites, scratches, poison ivy rashes, sunburn, gastrointestinal issues and more. There's several plants that can soothe or support even in acute situations when emergency care is on their way. Participants can choose to make a simple extract to take home at the end of class to begin or add to their existing herbal first aid kit.
Jeanine Davis
Unlocking Hidden Resources: Essential Support for Herb Growers
Botanical Hammer Prints
We will collect some pretty plant material and then have some fun (and maybe work out some aggressions) by creating botanical hammer prints on cloth and paper.
Renee Prince
Understanding Your Immune System:
Join us for an in-depth exploration of immunity through the lens of both clinical and traditional herbalism. This class will cover how herbs support and modulate the immune system, diving into materia medica, traditional wisdom, and modern research. We’ll discuss key immune-supportive herbs, their actions, energetics, and applications, along with formulation strategies for acute and long-term immune health. Whether you are a practitioner or an enthusiast, this class will provide a well-rounded understanding of herbal immunity, blending science with tradition for effective, holistic care.
Cacao Ceremony:
Join us for an immersive journey into cacao, exploring its clinical and traditional uses, origins, and ceremonial significance. This class will delve into the materia medica of cacao, its physiological and energetic effects, and how it has been used in ritual and healing across cultures. We’ll discuss traditional preparations, formulation techniques, and the role of cacao in both medicine and spirit. Participants will also have the opportunity to experience cacao firsthand, deepening their connection to this revered plant through taste, sensation, and guided exploration.
Percolation Method of Tincturing:
Discover the art and science of tincturing with the percolation method in this hands-on herbal class. We will explore the historical roots and traditional uses of percolation, its clinical applications, and how it compares to maceration and other extraction techniques. Learn why percolation is an efficient method for creating potent tinctures, its advantages and limitations, and how to apply it in your own herbal practice. Through discussion, demonstration, and formulation, you’ll gain practical skills and a deeper understanding of this fast yet effective extraction process.
